For the sake of easier math in these examples, House Charges will be set at $300 (with Food making up 12/3 of this, so $100200) and ICC Charges will be set at $700. Keep in mind that your ICC Charges will vary depending on room type, and that both of these numbers are rounded from charges in the year 2023. Look for the example in which the bolded portion sounds similar to your situation so you do not have to read all of the scenarios (since many have repeated information).

1. '''You are planning to move out 5 weeks early.''' Let's say you need to move out the last week of March through the end of a contract period ending at the end of April (5 weeks). In this situation, you should immediately submit the [https://icc.coop/housing/icc-contract-release-information ICC's Contract Release Form] and send a statement to the [[President]] for a House Charges AND Work Release Request. If the ICC releases you from your contract, which usually only happens with documentation of extreme circumstances, you will be released from all obligations of your contract. Since you're moving out 5 weeks early, that means you will would get out of the last $1250 of your charges. Notice this is both House and ICC Charges, prorated to match 5 weeks. If it is past the beginning of March, you likely will have paid your March charges already. In that case, you will receive a $250 credit on RentManager. The same goes if you need retroactive reimbursement. For example, if your contract release isn't approved by the ICC until late April, you will receive the $1250 you already paid in charges as a credit on your RentManager.The reason you should also submit for a House Charges and Work Release is ''not'' because you need one in addition to the ICC's Contract Release, but to because it will financially help you out in case if you do not get a full contract release. Remember, if you get a Contract Release, which are very rare, you are released from all obligations of your contract, to include all charges and labor. If you aren't granted one, by submitting a House Charges and Work Release a you have a strong chance at reducing your charges by getting released from House Charges and being relieved from your house chores. To get approved, you must submit this request these requests to be an item items on the next House Meeting's agenda by emailing escher.president@icc.coop with a statement that includes all relevant details. Make sure to CC the [[Treasurer]] so that you receive an automatic Food Release. This is to say that, regardless (more on the result monetary details of your vote, you will receive an automatic food release* since you informed the Treasurer that you will be gone for 2 or more consecutive meal-providing weeksthis below). If you can, you should attend those the two meeting forums that your requests will be heard on so you can make your case and answer any questions your fellow members may have for you. Once the ballot results come back, if your request is approved, you will not be free from chore obligations starting the last week of March and your charges will be $300 less in April. This is because all monetary releases on the house-level are given in half-month incrementsrounded down. *The automatic food release also follows this principle, meaning if you House Charges release was not approved, your charges will be $100 200 less in April.

- "What if I am requesting a release in the summer? I will be gone for plenty more than 14 meal-providing days, but they won't exactly be consecutive since there are no meals on the weekends." I'm not going to lie, I took a shortcut here in stipulating it be '14 or more consecutive meal-providing days'. The intended meaning is that is you are gone for a block of time which ''includes '' 14 or more days that are meal-providing, you qualify for an automatic food release.- "Okay, what if I am instead looking to get an automatic food release for a two weeks week vacation over the summer? Is that not possible because I would be gone for 10 instead of 14+ meal-providing days? And if it is possible, I assume I get a half-month release?" Woah, now you're asking some great questions that I do not currently have the answer to! I pass the buck on this to our wonderful [[Treasurer]] whom I know will update this with the answer when he has it (love you Jon).

2. '''You are going on vacation for 3 weeks.''' Since you will not be using most house resources this time, you would prefer to not pay for food & amenities. Though you'd also prefer not to do chores, it is unlikely that a Work Release will be approved for this reason (and it is uncooperative to ask for one in your case since it really short-staffs the house). First, worry about finding shift swaps or otherwise getting your hours done in advance. [[Work|Remember, if you do not do this, you WILL be fined for missing your labor]]! Next, since you will want submit a House Charges Release. If approvednot be using most house resources this time, you will would prefer not to pay $150 less on RentManager for the month food & amenities. Many of our amenities are included in which you will be gone. This is because all monetary releases on food charges, and those that are not are necessary to keep the house-level are given in half-month incrementsrunning. Even if your vacation In other words, an automatic Food Release is 3 1/2 weeks, you will still only receive more appropriate here than a $150 discountHouse Charges release. To get approvedreceive an automatic Food Release, all you must submit this request to be do is send an item on the next House Meeting's agenda by emailing escher.president@icc.coop with a statement that includes all relevant details (namely, when you will be departing and returning). Make sure email to CC the [[Treasurer]] so that you receive an automatic Food Release. This is ''in advance'' to say that, regardless the result of your vote, you will receive $50 for food since you informed the Treasurer that let them know you will be gone for 2 at least 14 or more consecutive weeksmeal-providing days. If This step will guarantee you can, you should attend those two meeting forums so you can make your case and answer any questions your fellow members may have a $100 refund for youFood charges. Once the ballot results come back, if your request This is approved, there is nothing more you must dobecause all monetary releases are given in half-month increments rounded down. If you have questions about which month you will be credited (maybe your vacation is split over two months), email escher.treasurer@icc.coopor how much you'll be credited, consult the [[Treasurer]].In your situation, your if you do opt to submit a House Charges release request, it is generally slightly less likely to be approved than in a move-out scenario (like the one above).However, if it is approved, you will be expected to vacate your room (to include removing all your things) so that another resident can move- "If I were in if the ICC decides to go on vacation contract out that room for 3 1/2 weeks, can I submit the time you are gone. This is another reason that many do not ask for a full-month's House Charges Release?" No, release in the half-month increments are fixedevent of a vacation.- "What if my vacation is over Winter break? Do I get an automatic food release?" The intent of House Charges Releases is to aid No: Recall that automatic food releases are only given for those who are traveling while most of the house is still home. If everyone submitted release requests that will be gone for the holidays and they all somehow were approved, this would cause problemsat least 14 or more consecutive meal-providing days. For more information, consult the [[Treasurer]], because I am Meals are not privy to the exact details of these financial consequencesprovided over any UMich-observed holidays.

3. '''You are struggling financially and could use a discount on charges.''' In this scenario, you should first submit for an [https://icc.coop/my-membership/icc-finances/financial-aid-info/ ICC scholarship, or opt into a payment plan]. House Charges Releases In the event you cannot secure an ICC scholarship, requesting a Food Release for a certain amount of time could be your best option. This is not how releases have not historically been used to offset member's financial stress since it typically results would result in other members picking up the your bill, but it is not unconstitutional to ask for one for this (or any other) reason. However, if you go this route, be sure to write a thorough statement, plan to attend the meeting, and ''have a strong back-up plan''. - "What about a House Charges Release? Could I request that on top of a Food Release?" No. House Charges Releases require vacating your room (to include removing all your belongings) for the duration of their release, so they are not a viable option for offsetting charges. However, you could achieve the same effect as a House Charges Release by simply requesting a longer Food Release. E.g. Requesting a Food Release for a month and a half ($300) instead of a House Charges Release for one month ($300). The only difference is how you would be credited: that you would have $200 less on one month's rent and $100 less on the next in the case of the 6-week Food Release. If I've not explained this well-enough, or if you need other guidance on this particular issue, reach out to the [[Treasurer]].

4. '''You have a food allergy or are on a diet and where you can't eat most of the dinners.''' In this scenario, you should first reach out to the [[Kitchen Manager]] who can likely work to accommodate your needs. If they cannot, or you have some other reason you'd like to stop eating the kitchen's food, you should email the [[President]] your statement to be included on the next House Meeting's agenda. If your request is approved, you will be pay $900 800 instead of $1000 every month (since Food Charges are $100200). If you can, you should attend those two meeting forums so you can make your case and answer any questions your fellow members may have for you. Once the ballot results come back, if your request is approved, there is nothing more you must do. If you have questions about which month you will begin to be credited, email escher.treasurer@icc.coop.